Adjusting means for agricultural implements



ug. 2, 1949- w. J. COULTAS ADJUSTING MEANS FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1948 WN .NN Z

R. .A U W0 mc J R `U B H. w

Aug. 2, 1949. w. J. coULTAs 2,477,687

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR AGRICULTURAL- IMPLEMENTS Filed Jan. 50, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l .uw 'y u el- 4@ 77 4 i @7 6 SZ es Fl INVENTOR.

" w/LBUQ d. cof/LTA l vW. J. COULTAS ADJUSTING MEANS FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Filed Jan. 50, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m hm .Iv/w' N w m.

y l INVENTOR.

W/LBUI? J. COULTS Patented Aug. 2, 1 949 ADJUSTING MEANS FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Wilbur J; Goultas, Moline, I1l;assignor'toxl)eere & Company; Moline', Ill., a corporaticnof: Illi'- nois Application January 30, 1948; SerialfNo'. 5,323

(Clt 5.6.--25) 16 Claims.

This invention relates to` an agricultural implement and more particularly toadustingI means fory adjusting or raising and lowering4 an More par-- the inventionA relates to adjusting-r adjustable part of the implement. ticular-ly, means for a mowerand further tor improved mower structure.

The present invention is shown andV will bev describedrin connection with, a mower of` the tractor mounted type, inasmuch asz the invention is particularly applicable to an implement of.v thattype; although, the invention with slight modification may be readily adapted to other implements having similar structural. and functional characteristics.

In` a mower of the typereferred to, the tracto-ris usually provided with carrying-structure inthe form of a drawbarhaving a'transverse member onwhich the mower or cutter barstructure is carried. The cutter bar structure includesea laterally extending cutter bar pivotally and releasably connected to the carrying structureor drawbar in` such mannerthat the cutter bar is normally maintained in laterally extending operating position but is releasablein'response to the striking lofv an obstruction thereby so thatV it may swingA rearwardly fromy the carrying structure, the object being to` prevent damage to-`v the cutter bar and its related parts. Thecutter-bar` is further mounted onv the mower frame or cutter bar structure in such manner that it mayfbe'adjusted vertically by control means including a control lever whereby the operator may raiseY or lower the cut'terrbar from an operating to a transport position. In certain types ofmowers the cutter bar is additionally mounted for vertical movement into various horizontal planes sol nection with the means which provides for releasable rearward swinging of thecutter bar structure; that is*V to say, it is desirable to dis*- connect the raising. andf loweringV means from the cutter bar when the cutter bar structure swings rearwardly and it is further desirable that the means be readily reconnectible when the cutterbar is swung forwardly to its normal` operating position.

Several prior constructions are known in whichthe foregoing results are accomplished and it is the principal object ofthe present invention to provide improvements in those structures to the end that' the mechanism is made more eicient, is simplied, and ispositive in its action. In par.- ticular, itis an important object of the invention to provide a connectible and disconnectible means between the raising and lowering mechanism and the cutter bar which is disconnectible upon rearward swinging of the cutter bar andv is reconnectible upon returnof the cutter bar to normal position. It is afurther object of the invention toprovide such means in a tractor mower off the type inY which` the mower iscar-A ried directlyV on theI tractor, and especially at the rear of the tractor.

Other objects of theinvention include: The provision of improved mower structure in which theweight ofithe component parts is more nearly balanced oni the carrying structure; t0 provid-e improved means for adjusting the cutter bar and. its: related parts for the accomplishment of various angles'of cutting; and generally to improve the construction and operation of one well known type of tractor mounted mower.

The'foregoing and other desirable objects inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become. apparent to those skilled in the art as the disclosure of a preferred form of the inven- I tion. is-morefully made in the following detailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view,` partly in section, of a mower carried on the rear portion of aV tractor;

Figure 2 is a4 plan View of the same;

Figure 3L isa perspective view, taken from thei reanand, omitting Vpart ofthe tractor;

Figure 4- is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially alongV the line 4-Ll of Figure 2 and showing interior construction of the mower not shownin ligurel;v

Figure 51 is a view similar to that in Figure 4 but showingV themower frame orcutter bar structure` i'n the position assumed when it is at least partiallyswung baci; from the carrying structure.

Figurezis a: fragmentary sectional view takenv oir the line 6--6` of Figure 1 andshowing the mounting of the control lever and its related parts;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 2 and showing the pivotal connection of the cutter bar structure to the main supporting member of the mower; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing that end of the main supporting member which carries part of the releasable means for maintaining the mower in normal operating position.

The tractor chosen for the purposes of illustration is of a well known type and only the rear portion thereof is shown. This tractor is illustrated as having a main longitudinally extending body 28 having depending housing structure 2| and rear traction wheels 22. The rear portion f the body 29 is shown as including a power control housing 23 which may contain suitable hydraulic power control means such as that disclosed in the U. S. patent to Worthington, 2,403,422, lThe exterior parts of such control mechanism appear in the drawings here and, as far as is essential to the present case, include a transverse rockshaft 24 to one end of which is fixed a rearwardly extending control arm 25. It will be understood, from reference to the patent identified above, that the rockshaft 24 is rocked by means of a hydraulic motor contained within the tractor body for the purpose of rocking the arm 25 up or down at the will of the operator. The tractor further includes a rearwardly extending power source in the form of a power takeoff 25, conventional construction.

The tractor serves as carrying structure for the mower and to that end is provided with supporting structure in the form of a rearwardly extending drawbar, designated generally by the numeral l21. This drawbar includes a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally, rearwardly extending side portions 28 carried at their forward ends on the depending housing structure 2| and rigidly cross connected at their rear ends by a transverse support or frame member 29. The numerals 30 and 3| designate the longitudinally spaced attaching points of the drawbar 21 to the depending housing structure 2|.

The mower structure includes a main transverse supporting member 32 which is connected to and supported on the transverse member 29 of the drawbar 21. The means for supporting the member 32 on the member 29 includes structure having a pair of transversely spaced, forwardly opening U-shaped elements 33, each of which includes an upper apertured leg portion 34 and a lower apertured legportion 35. l The lower leg portions 35 are preferably formed of one piece of material and are connected together by a transverse intermediate portion 36 which is centrally and vertically apertured to receive a hitch pin 31 which in turn is` received by an apertured forward extension 38 on the transverse drawbar member 29. The apertures in the respective upper and lower portions 34 and 35 are aligned to receive locking members in the form of wedges 39. The wedges 39 are inserted through the apertured portions 34 and 35 ahead of the transverse drawbar member 29 and the combination of the wedges and the hitch pin 31 rigidly secures the member 32 to the drawbar. The hitch pin 31 carries thereon an apertured clip 49 and each of the wedges 39 is apertured so that a iiexible connecting element which may be of any.

4| may be passed therethrough to loosely join the three elements together. The arrangement is such that the mower may be easily disconnected from the tractor by withdrawing the wedges 39 and hitch pin 31, after which the tractor may be driven forwardly away from the mower. The reverse procedure is followed in reconnecting the drawbar to the mower.

The mower structure includes a second member 42 which is normally disposed on top of the member 32 and connected thereto by means including a pair of transversely spaced apart connections, one of which is a, pivotal connection, indicated generally by the numeral 43 (Figures 2 and 1), and the other of which is a releasable connection, indicated generally by the numeral 44 (Figure 1). As best shown in Figure 7, the proximate ends of the members or bars 32 and 42 are vertically apertured in alignment to receive a vertical pivot pin 45 which includes a shortv coil spring and nut 46 and 41. The general construction of pivotal connection between comparable mower parts is believed to be sufliciently well known to those skilled in the art as to require no further explanation or illustration.

The opposite or grassward end of the member 32 includes a pintle 48 (Figures 1 and 8) which is rigidly secured, as by welding at 49, to the member 32. The proximate end of the member 42 is provided with a bracket 50 having a depending portion 5I on which is pivoted a vertically swinging latch member 52. The upper portion of the latch member is recessed to receive the lower portion of the pintle 48 and is normally spring-pressed in that position by means of a compression spring 53. A second pivoted latch member 54 is carried by the bracket member 50 and is normally positioned to engage the upper portion of the pintle 48. The arrangei, ment is such that the members 52 and 54 may I. shown is similar to that in the U. S, patent to Coultas 2,292,362, to which reference may be had for a further detailed description of the mechanism. It should be understood, however, that the latch means presently illustrated is but representative of many types of latches utilized for these purposes.

The supporting structure of the mower further includes at .the left hand or stubbleward side of the supporting member 42 a casting or housing structure, indicated generally .by the numeral 55, which comprises means for carrying many of the component parts of the mower. The casting structure includes an upper portion 56 which serves as a bearing for journaling a short longitudinal shaft 51, which is suitably connected to the power take-orf shaft 26 of the tractor by means of a -power transmitting connection, indicated generally by the numeral 58, and including universal joints and suitable telescopic shaft sections, a construction which is but representative of many conventional forms. The short shaft 51 projects at the rear of the journaling portion 5B and has keyed thereto a, relatively large driving pulley 59. The lower portion of the casting structure 55 includes a lower journaling portion -Sll in which is journaled a shaft 6| (Fig. 3) parallel to the shaft 51 and having at one end thereof a drive pulley 62 about. which xand the drive rpulley 59 a belt 63 is trained. The opposite end of ,thelowerA shaft includes a counterbalanced armena crank B to which is connected a pitmarrthe rotating crank. servingtoreciprocate the ypitman` inam'annerwell understood..

The castingl structure 5.5- additionally includes atits lower` portion a bearing i6 iproviding a pivot on a horizontal longitudinal axis for the inner bent. end: l: of a. laterally and; grasswardly eX.-

tending couplingor dragbar 58, the dragbar 6.8.

thus. being mountedf for vertical swinging movement about the axis through the bearingd.. The

outerror grassward. end of the dragbar l'includes.

a, casting. 595 which may be of well known construction andl which includesa lpivot 'lilA on a horizontal longitudinal. axis. for carrying a cutting mechanism. includingv a cutter bar 1|. The cutterrbar may carry the usual knife (not shown) which is reciprocated` by the reciprocating pitman 65 previously described.

The-bottomoportion of the casting structure 5.5 hasl rigidly secured thereto a longitudinally, forwardlyy extending support 'I2 which is braced by a: diagonal brace 'i3 attached to the end of the member l2 that carries the latch parts 52 and 54 and; which accommodates the forward end of. arearwardly and diagonally extending brace llt. The connection of. the forward end of the brace lili toy the forward end of the support l2 is by means; of a pivot l5. The rear end of the brace l5 is pivotally connected at l5 to the castingv yoke 5.9 (Figure 2). The bracing structure, although arranged to adequately brace the cutter bar structure lagainst ordinary fore and arty stresses and strains is pivoted in such manner as to. permit rise and fall of the cutter bar structure, including. the drag bar 58, about the pivot at 55;. The outer or right hand end of the supporting member 52' that carries the castingl or bracket. is connected by means of a laterally extending brace Ti: (Figures 2 and. 3) to the casting structure 5.5i The casting structure 55 is iure ther carried on the transverse supporting member [l2 by an inverted L-shaped bracket 18.

The transverse supporting member 42 carries rigidly at its upper surface a small upstanding bracket 1S (Figures 4 and 5) on which is supported the upper portion of an upwardly and forwardly inclining'. strap member 80. The upper portion of the strap member carries rotatably therein a sheave or pulley 8| and the lower portion or the strap member rotatably carries a second pulley or sheave 82'. The lower portion of the strap member is further braced by means of a short transverse brace connected to the cast-- ing structure (Figures 2, 3 and 4). The

stubbleward and upper portion of the casting 55.

its. provided with` a bracket Bd on which is rotatably carried a third sheave or pulley 85. These sheaves serve as part of the means forming a connection between the rockshaft power arm 25 the.- cutter bar 1|, whereby power is transmitted from the rockshait 24 to raise and lower the cutter bar about its pivot 'l0 (Figure 3). The connection is shown here as including a flexible element, such as a cable 85, connected at one end to. the` arm 215, trained about the sheaves 85, 8| and Si and connected at its other end to a chain 813 which is associated in the conventional manner with the inner end of the lcutter bar as at 8.5;, the chain passing over a sector 89 to lprovide for increasing the leverage applied .to pivot the cutter bar vertically about the pivot l0.

The right hand or grassward end of the transverse supporting member 42 has rigidly carried thereby a forwardly extending supporting member 90. The forward end of this member servestoy as. a baseifor ai usshaped bracket 9|f (Figure 6); which is secured, as by welding. at 92, tothe member 9.0. `The outer wall portion of. the bracket. 9|@ carries: rigidly thereon an upstand ing quad-rant 93"; and the. lower portion of the quadrant.. and the walls'f of thel bracket. 91|. arey a-perturedzin alignment totprovide ya bearing whichl carries rockahly therein, a rockshaftl Slt disposed transversely-of the mower structure. The outer or grassward end of: the rockshaft 945 is provided'l with an. adjusting arm 95, this arm being; preferably formed as an, integral part of the rooie shaft and angularly related thereto. The rear: end: portion. of the. arm 95.'. is. provided asa slotor hook; Sf for the purpose of.' receiving the upper endof. a; depending link 9'|the.lower end of which; is ccnnectediat. 9?! toithe. casting or yokeg: (Fig.. ure 3).

The, arrangement ofthe rockshaft: 94adjusting arm- 951 and link 95.- with` respect to the casting or yoke 69; is such that rocking of the rockshaft will raise andi lower theA cut-ter bar structure about: the pivot at 56.. The inner end of therockshaft gd-carries a depending arm 9.9 which is preferably pinned at |09.r to the rockshaft for movement. therewith. Thelowerv end ofthe arm 99 is apertured to receive. the hook end.v of a4 longitudinally extending link |0| which has a rear hook end.l connected tothe. forward: end of a tension spring |02.. Thel rear end; of; thev spring is connected to., a rearwardly exten-dir igv supporting arm |03' rigidly carried by a. rightv hand. end portionofthe. transversev member 42 adjacent the bracketEd` previously described. The tension on the spring.` |02 is so adjusted as to balance the weight of the cutter bar structure through the link |.0|, arm 9S', rockshaft 9,4-, arm 95` and link 9'lf, a. function. that is well known. in. mowers ofthis type.. An additional brace |04 is provided between theupner end of thestra-p. memberV 8d and the bracket. 9 I-.

In the mower illustrated, power from the power control mechanism. Jhat. rocks the rockshaft 24. and power lift arm. 25 is utilized for the purpose of raising and lowering the cutter bar 1i.' It is. desirable, however, that vertical adjustment of the` coupling or. drag bar Sii aboutitspivot 66 be accomplishedmanually. For this. purpose there is provided a manually.v operable control lever |05 which has its lower end journaled on the rockshaft 9d adjacent the quadrant 93. In other words, the lever |05r is. free to rock at times independently `of the; adjusting arm 9.5, in a manner that will presentlyA appear. The quadrantV S13;v includes a forward toothed. portion |06 and a rear untoothed portion |01.V The lever |05 may be equipped with the. usual detent mechanism, as at |03 (Figure 2)., for cooperation with thetoothed lportion |06, When the lever |05 is in the position shown in Figure l, or any position forwardly thereof, the detent mechanism |06 will cooperate with the toothed portion |06 to main tain the lever |05 in axed position. However, when the lever is moved to the rear so that it is; within the range of the untoothed portion |01, it is not locked and is free to swing angularly between a pair of stops |09 and ||0 on the quadrant 93. A tension spring is connectedV between the quadrant and the lever for maintaining the lever |05 toward its forward position. As will be hereinafter more fully pointed out, the; lever |05 occupies the position between the stops |00 and ||0 when the cutter bar structure is in operating position, atV which time the inner end of the cutter bar will ride on a shoe ||2 of conventional construction.

According to the present invention, there has been provided an improved means for connecting the lever to the adjusting arm 95 so that the two may be moved together; that is to say, so that the lever |05, which is journaled on the rockshaft 94, may be connected in operative relation to the adjusting arm 95 for the purpose of adjusting the coupling or drag bar 68 vertically. This Ameans further includes releasable or separable mechanism for disconnecting the lever |05 and arm 95.

The lever |05 is provided at its outer face with a rearwardly extending bracket ||3 to which is pivotally connected the upper end of a depending and rearwardly extending latch member ||4, this member preferably being made in two pieces to provide for vertical adjustment thereof, as indicated by the slot and cap screw H5. The lower end of the latch member |4 is provided as a hook ||6 which provides one of a pair of connectible and disconnectible elements, the other of this pair being provided by a transverse short pin ||1 carried by the adjusting arm 95. When the latch member ||4 is engaged with the pin ||1, the lever |05 is operatively connected to the arm 95.

The forward end of the quadrant 93 includes a bearing |8 in which is journaled a short transverse rockshaft ||9, the outer end of which has fixed thereto a depending lever |20 pivotally connected at its lower end by a rearwardly extendinglink |2| to a lower portion of the latch member l |4.

The inner end of the rockshaft ||9 has keyed thereto an upstanding actuating lever |22 and has further keyed thereto a depending lever or arm |23.

The transverse supporting member 42 carries a pair of transverse brackets including bearings |24 in which is journaled a third transverse rockshaft |25. The right hand or grassward end of this rockshaft has keyed thereto an upstanding arm |26 which is connected by a forwardly and upwardly extending link |21 to the upper end of the arm |22 on the rockshaft ||9. The arm |26 is also connected by means of a tension spring |28 to the lower end of the arm |23 on the rockshaft H9. The arm |26 thus provides an anchor l for the spring |20, the tension on which is such as to tend to urge the rockshaft ||9 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in the drawings. Urging of the rockshaft I9 in this direction tends to apply pressure through the link |2| to the latch member ||4 and thus tends to keep the latter in position to either engage or become engaged with the pin ||1 on the arm 95. In view of the fact that the lever |05 is journaled on the rockshaft 94 and normally is positioned in the range of the untoothed portion |01 between the stops |09 and ||0, it will be seen that the lever |05 may be moved rearwardly so as to free the hooked portion l |5 on the latch ||4 from the pin ||1, inasmuch as the cutter bar structure will be riding on thev ground. However, the link |2|, being affected by the action of the spring |28, will maintain the latch |I4 in position always to engage the pin ||1 on the arm 95, except when the cutter bar structure is released from the supporting structure, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The third rockshaft |25 provides part of a means to control the engagement and disengagement between the latch ||4 and pin ||1 on the adjusting arm 95. For this purpose the rockshaft carries rigidly thereon a plurality of depending lever arms |29, 30 and |3| (Figure 5). The bearing brackets |24 which carry the shaft |25 are so positioned that the normal position of the levers |29, |30 and |3| is that shown in Figure 4; that is to say, the levers extend downwardly from the rockshaft |25 and ahead of the forward edge of the fixed transverse member 32 on the tractor drawbar 21, so that when the cutter bar structure is released to pivot rearwardly about the vertical axis through the pivotal connection 43 at the left side of the mower structure, the member 42 will move rearward relative to the member 32 and the member 32 will thus be in the path of the lower ends of the arms or levers |29, |30 and |3I. As the members 42 and 32 separate, the levers or arms |29, 30 and |3| will successively engage the member 32 so as to effect counterclockwise rocking of the rockshaft 25, which Will in turn, through the link |21, effect counterclockwise rocking of the second rockshaft H9. This action will swing the depending lever arm |20 forwardly and will draw the link |2| forwardly, which will result in swinging the latch member |4 also forwardly and out of position with respect to the pin |1 on the adjusting arm 95.

In the normal position of the parts, the members 42 and 32 lie in juxtaposition or parallelism. Because of the pivotal connection at 43 between the two members, relative movement therebetween is such as to destroy the parallelism between the members and create a rather wide angle therebetween, this angle increasing as the member 42 swings rearwardly with respect to the member 32. It is for this reason that there are a plurality of levers, such as those indicated at |29, |30 and I 3| Upon initial rearward swinging of the member 42 with respect to the member 32, the outermost lever or arm |29 will be the first to be affected; although, all levers will be moved, because they are rigid on the rockshaft |25. As best shown in Figure 5, the maximum rearward swinging of the member 42 with respect to the member 32 will cause the lever or arm |29 to leave the upper surface of the member 32. If the lever or arm |29 were the only one, the departure between the arm and member 32 would permit the rockshaft |25 to be returned to its original position by action of the spring |28. However, the second arm |30 still stays on the upper surface of the member 32, and prevents return rocking of the rockshaft |25. Now, should the member 42 become swung rearwardly to a still greater extent the lever |33 would also leave the upper surface of the member 32. However, the third lever or ann |3| will still engage the member 32, being positioned relatively close to the pivot means 43. The levers or arms |29, |30 and |3| not only provide means for rocking the rockshaft |25 but further provide means for retaining the rockshaft in its rocked position. The under surfaces of the levers or arms 29, |30 and 3| and the forward and upper surfaces of the transverse lever 32 provide cooperative cam elements for controlling the rockshaft |25.

In the operation of the mower, all the parts are substantially in the position shown in the drawings, with the exception of Figure 5 and with the exception of the lever |05 in Figure 1. This lever, as aforesaid, is moved to the position corresponding to the range of the untoothed portion |01 of the quadrant 93. The control levers femme? for-'arms 129, fall Iand 1F31 fare positioned as fshown iin Figure 41an'd 'the control '-ilinkage 'to 'the latch lmember IM `-is in neutral position.; that fis tof say, I'the 'parts are in such position as fto maintain or ycondition 'the latch member l'H4 ffor engagement with the ypin Hlon .the 'adjusting arm 95. Assuming lthatthe mower 'will vbe operating over .conditions 1in which the outterbar 1| can'be'operated horizontally, the cutter .bar will extend Vsubstantially -as a continuation of the "coupling ror drag bar'. .Sufficient slack is permitted in -thelifting cable 86 .so that :the cutterfbar :1| sand drag-bar 68 may have relative free vertical movement within vlimits about their .pivots 'l'll1and66 toaccommodate unevenness in groundcontoun l.

The floating .movement of Athe drag bar liabout its pivot at 66 may occur without a resultant `swinging of the Ilever |05 back and forth, which would be the condition were Athe y:lever permanenti-,v connected to vthe linkage :for -raising and lowering the drag bar. As shown, however, com- `paratively.extreme vertical movement ofthe drag bar 63 may occur withoutaiecting the position of the lever |05.

Assuming now that Ait is desired to operate-the .cutter bar at va. substantial height above the ground, the lever |05 will be moved forwardly and appropriately positioned with respect to one of the teeth in the .toothed portion .|06 of the quadrant 93. This williestablish a desired height of the drag bar E8. The .power control mechanism may n'ow be operated -to determine the position of the cutter bar 1|. Again, veven though the lever |45 is fixed with respect to the quadrant 93, there can`be substantial vertical movement of the drag bar `68 without vaffecting the lever |05, inasmuch `as the engagement between the pin l'l'land the hook end l I5 of the ylatch .I |4 occurs only on downward movement of thedrag bar 68.

From `the foregoing, it will be clear that raising `and lowering :the cutter bar itself is accomplished through ythepower control mechanismincluding the arm 25, cable 'B6 'and sheaves 8|, `|32 and, 85 and the chain 81 andconnectionsila and '89. Raising and lowering 'of the drag bar 68 is accomplished by Imeans of the control member H35 and the connection including the latch 'H4 and pin lll on 'the arm'95.

When the vcutter bar strikes an obstruction that impedes its forward progress, the .release mechanism 44 Aoperates and the pivoted members 52 and 54 spread apart and escape .from 'the pintle member :48, vthus allowing the cutter bar structure to rswing Arearwardly vabout the pivotal connection v43 'as 'the tractor continuesiforwardly. The sheaves 8|, 82 andll', and particularly Lthe 'shefave 85, are so 'arranged 'as not to interfere with the rearward swinging vof the 'cutter bar structure with respect lto the tractor drawbar, the sheave 85 being located substantially'vertically above the pivot v43. Consequently, there will benoiadverse-effect on "the'cutterbar itself. Even though the "control'lever f'a'nd its associatediparts are carried onthe samesupporting structure "that swingsirearwardly with the cutter bar structure, itis desirable to release ythe "latch member H4 from th'efadjusting 'arm 95 so'that the cutter Ybar structure may be 'free to `follow ground contour as it swings rearwardly. It has been found that freeing the-cutterbafristruoture from the lifting mechanism'preve'nts damage to the parte and Afpi-ovicles "for fa -eleanerbieakaway ofthe cutter ba'r `lstifuotune from fthe carrying structure. -`As :Ipreviousllystatedy initial rearward lll) :swinging of the cutter bar structure, which inoludes the transverse member 42, causes counter- :clockwise rocking rof the rockshaft |25 as the levers orear'ins |29, |30 and |3I are cammed upwardly by the upper surface of the transverse supporting member 32. This rocking of the rock- Yshaft |25 eiects a release of the latch v| I4 from the :pin Hl, 'andthe cutter bar structure will be Vfree'from thelever |05, to follow its own path in rearward swinging; "that is to say, its own veritical .path withrespect to any depressions in the rground.

Reconnection of the cutter bar structureto-the carrying structure is elected by-backing the trac- -tor until the pivoted members 52 and 54 again reengage the pintle4'8 on themem'ber 32. Inasmuchas the third lever .or arm |3| has not left the upper surface of the member 32, the other :levers |29 :and |30 may freely ride back over the upper-surfaceof th'emem'ber 32 to return to their normal positions as shown .in Figure 4. Return :rocking .of lthe rockshaft |25 is effected by the spring |28, and the linkage between the rock- "shaft 'I |.9 and the latch member ||4 restores the flatch |Ir4to its 'original position to engage or'bevcome-'engaged with'the .pin .I Il on the adjusting arm 9.5. Theoperator of the tractor, being then awarefo'f 'the obstacle, now raises the cutter bar -1 lfsuiiicientlyto pass over the obstacle, and lowers the cutter bar and continues operating as before.

vTheforegoing pertains to thefdetailedy structure 'of the preferred embodiment of the invention -andtheoperation'thereof in eld conditions. The vmower structure itself is a compact organization `eiiioiently arranged with respect to the supporting member 42 and well balanced over the transversemember 29 of the drawbar 27. The mower may be similar-1y arranged with respect to other carrying structure or with respect to a carrying structure of ithe type located ahead of the traction wheelspas is the :case in lconventional highway mowers, all of which vessentials are well understood by those `'skilled `in the art. The control mechanism for effecting connection and disconnection of fthe latch |'|4 from the pin on the arm 95fis simple-in construction and is positive in action. fOther featuresof the invention will be readily apparent to those versed in the art, as likewise 'will-be numerous modifications and alterationsin thepreferred construction illustrated. It is ltherefore not desired to limit the nventionby the precise structural and functional details set forth herein.

I'claim:

1.In a mower including carrying structure and utterbar structure extending normally in opera'ting vposition transversely thereof and con- 'nectedth'eretoby means including a pivotal connection having `vertical and horizontal axes and a transversely spaced release device so that the cutter" bar structure maymove up and down with respect tothe'carrying structure and further may move rearwardly when released, and futher having a movable 'control member releasably connected by amovable latch to the cutter bar structure for moving the cutter bar structure up and down, the improvement residing in means for releasing-the latch between the cutter bar structureand control member in response to rearward swinging-ofthe cutter bar structure, comprising: an actuating member for fixed connection to one structure; a rockshaft for mounting on `the other structure so that the rockshaft and memberihave relative movement when the cutter bar Structure -swings lrearwardly; means for opera- 11 tively connecting the rockshaft to the movable' latch; and means carried by the rockshaft and engageable with the actuating member to effect rocking of the rockshaft, and consequently to eiect release movement of the latch, whenthe cutter bar structure swings rearwardly.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: the last named means comprises an arm iixed to the rockshaft and engageable by the actuating member to be moved by the member in response to relative movement between the actuating member and rockshaft as the cutter bar structure swings rearwardly.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: the rockshait and actuating member are parallel; and the means on the rockshait engageable with the actuating member lcomprises a plurality of arms fixed to the rockshaft and engageable by the actuating member to be moved by the member in response to relative movement between the actuating member and rockshaft as the cutter bar structure swings rearwardly.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: the actuating member is transversely positionable between the pivotal connection and the release device that connects the cutter bar structure to the carrying structure; the rockshaft is substantially parallel to the actuating member; and the means on the rockshaft engageable with the actuating member comprises a plurality of arms fixed to the rockshaft and engageable by the actuating member to be moved by the member in response to relative movement between the actuating member and rockshaft as the cutter bar structure swings rearwardly.

5. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: spring means is provided for reversely rocking the rockshaft; and means are included for maintaining the rockshaft in rocked position against the action of said spring means until the cutter bar structure is returned to operating position, comprising an operating element engageable between the actuating member and rockshaft and displaceable by relative movement between the actuating member and rockshaft incident to return of the cutter bar structure to .operating position.

6. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: the member is positionable transversely between the pivotal connection and the release device that connects the cutter bar structure to the carrying structure; the rockshaft is substantially parallel to the actuating member; so that as said member and rockshaft move relatively when the cutter bar structure swings rearwardly the parallelism therebetween is destroyed; and the means for rocking the rockshaft includes a plurality .of arms fixed to the rockshaft and spaced thereon along the axis thereof and respectively having portions engageable with the member as the member and rockshaft move relatively.

7. In a tractor mower arrangement wherein the tractor includes a carrying structure having a transverse member and the mower includes cutter bar structure extending normally in operating position transverse to the tractor and is connected to the carrying structure by means including-a pivotal connection having vertical and horizontal axes and a transversely spaced release device so that the cutter bar structure may move up and down with respect to the carrying structure and further may move rearwardly when released, and further having a movable control member releasably connected by a movable latch to the cutter bar structure for moving the cutter bar structure up and down, the improvement residing in means for releasing the latch between the cutter bar structure and control member in response to rearward swinging of the cutter bar structure, comprising: a rockable member for mounting on the mower to swing rearwardly with the cutter bar structure relative to the transverse member; means for operatively connecting the rockable member to the latch for moving the latch to release same from its connection between the control member and. cutter bar structure; and means engageable between the rockable member and the transverse member to rock the former incident to relative movement between the two as the cutter bar structure swings rearwardly.

8. In a tractor mower arrangement wherein the tractor -includes a drawbar having a transverse portion and the mower includes cutter bar structure extending normally in operating position transverse to the tractor and is connected to the drawbar by means including a pivotal connection having vertical and horizontal axes and a transversely spaced release device so that the cutter bar structure may move up and down with respect to the drawbar and further may move rearwardly when released, and further having a movable control member releasably connected by a movable latch to the cutter bar structure for moving the cutter bar structure up and down, the improvement residing in means for releasing the latch between the cutter bar structure and control member in response to rearward swinging of the cutter bar structure, comprising: a rockable member for mounting on the mower to swing rearwardly with the cutter bar structure relative to the transverse member; means for operatively connecting the rockable member to the latch for moving the latch to release same from its connection between Vthe control member and cutter bar structure; and means engageable between the rockable member and the transverse drawbar portion to rock the former incident to relative movement between the two as the cutter bar structure swings rearwardly.

9. The invention defined in claim 8, further characterized in that: the rockable member includes a rockshaft paralleling the transverse drawbar portion; and the means engageable between the rockable member and drawbar portion includes a plurality of transversely spaced arms xed to the rockshaft and engageable with the drawbar portion as the rockshaft and drawbar move relatively incident to rearward swinging of the cutter bar structure.

l0. A tractor mower for use with a tractor having a rearwardly extending drawbar of the type having' a transverse supporting member, comprising: a rst transverse frame member; means for mounting said frame member generally directly above and on the transverse drawbar member; a second transverse frame member arranged to lie on top of and be supported by the rst frame member; means connecting the two frame members together adjacent an end portion of each, including a pivot on a vertical axis so that the second frame member may swing rearwardly with respect to the iirst frame member; means at the opposite end portions of said frame members including a realeasable latch device on one and a latch-receiving element on the other; cutting mechanism carried by the second frame member rearwardly thereof; control means for the cutting mechanism carried by the second frame member ahead thereof, so that the weight of the control means tends to counterbalance in part the Weight of the cutting mechanism with the iirst and second frame members and the transverse drawbar member as a fulcrum.

11. The invention defined in claim 10, further characterized in that: the rst frame member includes forwardly opening U-shaped structure to receive the transverse drawbar member and includes leg portions apertured vertically; and locking means is provided for insertion through said apertured portions ahead of the transverse drawbar member for securing the rst member to said drawbar member.

12. In an agricultural implement having rst and second members connected together for movement of one with respect to the other in opposite directions, and an implement part connected to one member for movement therewith relative to the other and for adjustment relative to both members, the improvement residing in means for adjusting the implement part, comprising: a control device movable on one member, means between the control device and implement part for adjusting the latter, including a pair of relatively movable connectible and disconnectible elements normally conditioned for connection between the control device and implement part; -actuating means including a iirst part operably connected to one of the elements for moving same and mounted on the rst member for movement with respect thereto in a first phase, to move said one element to condition said elements for disconnection when the members move relatively in one direction, and in a second phase to move said one element to condition the elements for reconnection when the members are moved relatively in the other direction, said actuating means including a second part operably engageable between the rst part and the second member for moving said rst part in its rst phase when the members are moved relatively in said one direction; means for moving the first part in its second phase; and means operable between the rst part and the second member for temporarily holding said part against second phase movement until the members are moved relatively in said other direction.

13. In an agricultural implement having first and second members connected together for movement of one with respect to the other in opposite directions, and an implement part connected to one member for movement therewith relative to the other and for adjustment relative to both members, the improvement residing in means for adjusting the implement part, comprising: a control device movable on one member; means between the control device and implement part for adjusting the latter, including a pair of relatively movable connectible and disconnectible elements normally conditioned for connection between the control device and implement part; actuating means including a first part operably connected to one of the elements for moving same and mounted on the first member for movement with respect thereto in a rst phase, to move said one element to condition said elements for disconnection when the members move relatively in one direction, and in a second phase to move said one element to condition the elements for reconnection when the members are moved relatively in the other direction, said actuating means including a second part operably engageable between the first part and the second member for moving said rst part in its iirst phase when the members are moved relatively in said one direction; and means for moving the rst part in its second phase when the members are moved relatively in said other direction.

14. In a mower having a fore and ait extending frame provided with a transverse support, and cutter bar structure connected thereto for rearward swinging relative thereto from normal operating position and including a part movable up and down for adjustment, the improvement residing in means for moving said part for adjustment, comprising: a control lever rockable fore and aft on the cutter bar structure; an adjusting member rockable on the cutter bar structure; means for connecting the adjusting member and the adjustable part; an actuating lever movable on the cutter bar structure; a latch member swingable on the lever between a position of engagement with the adjusting member and a position of disengagement from the adjusting inember; a link connecting the latch member and actuating lever; a transverse rockshaft on the cutter bar structure; an arm on the rockshaft and extending into a position to be engaged by the transverse support when the rockshaft and said arm swing with the cutter bar structure rearwardly relative to said support, whereby the rockshaft will be rocked in one direction; means for rocking the rockshaft in the opposite direction when the cutter bar structure returns to normal operating position; and means operably connecting the rockshaft and the actuating lever for moving the latter in response to rocking of the rockshaft.

15. In a mower having a fore and aft extending frame provided with a transverse support, and cutter bar structure connected thereto for rearward swinging relative thereto from normal operating position and including a part movable up and down for adjustment, the improvement residing in means for moving said part for adjustment, comprising: a first transverse rockshaft on the cutter bar structure, an adjusting member fast on said rst rockshaft and having means for connection to the adjustable part; a control lever rockable on and with respect to said first rockshaft; a second transverse rockshaft on the cutter bar structure ahead of the rst rockshait; a fore and aft swingable latch on the control lever, in one position thereof engageable in weight-supporting relation with the adjusting member, and in another position thereof disengageable from the adjusting member; an actuating lever xed on the second rockshaft; a fore and aft extending link connecting the actuating lever and the latch; a third transverse rockshaft behind the first rockshaft; means extending fore and aft and operably connecting the third and second rockshafts for rocking of the latter by the former; and means for rocking the third rockshaft at least in one direction in response to rearward swinging of the cutter bar structure.

16. The invention defined in claim 15, further characterized in that: spring means is provided for rocking the third shaft in the other direction; and means is provided for holding said rockshaft against rocking in said other direction until the cutter bar structure is returned to operating position.

WILBUR J. COULTAS.

No references cited. 

